Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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414. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49158/14]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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433. To ask the Minister for Health the total external public relation costs incurred by his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49383/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 433 together.

Between March 2011 and July 2014, the Department did not spend any money on PR or communications consultants. The Department does not generally use their services. The Press and Communications Office in the Department liaises with the media on my behalf, the Minister of State and the Department. I will revert to the Deputy with details should there be any expenditure since July 2014.

The Department's policy on engaging external consultants is to only so do where it is felt to be appropriate and cost effective, taking into account Government policy and Government decisions.